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GNU Taler (a swiss FLOSS alternative to Visa, Mastercard and Paypal) begins operating in Switzerland as Version 1.0 releases (news.itsfoss.com)

submitted 4 days ago by TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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GNU Taler begins operating in Switzerland, distributed by the Taler Operations AG. Gnu Taler aims to be a “digital wallet” and has been used by the swiss national bank as well as the european national bank as a example for how a digital currency handed out by the state could work. It aims to be as privacy preserving as cash for the buyer while not allowing the seller to evade taxes.

Currently the Taler is brought out by a special organisation, the “Taler Operations AG”, and not the national bank, although both the national bank as well as the Taler Team have shown interest in a official digial currency by the national bank based on the Taler. But we need to relativate as the national council has stated that the introduction of a digital currency would probably take relatively major legislative changes and therefore take a bit of time.

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[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 41 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Shouldn't we gather feedback first from that experiment before scaling up?

[–] tabular@lemmy.world 19 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Been waiting for Taler for ages. I'm ready now, you wait 😝

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I don't necessarily have to wait, it's more a generic advice.

Can you please expand though, as I'm curious, why you won't wait and you plan to use it?

Can you also comment on my follow up question, namely what are the limitations at the moment, both technically and legally? Basically does not living in Switzerland make a difference anyway for users?

[–] tabular@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

It was mostly a playful comment on my part (indicated by the emoji) - I've waited this long so they might as well do it properly.

I would like to buy products/services online privately, "using cash" as it were. I also value software freedom and the Taler client is GPL. The API is LGPL but hopefully I can avoid using proprietary software for transactions.

I looked into setting up a method of donations on itch.io when I was focused on that hobby and the options of PayPal or Stripe just felt icky. I don't want to use them, or encourage others to do so.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago

Thank you for taking the time to explain.

[–] tabular@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I watched technical talks (like this) on GNU Taler ages ago so this might be out of date but the most difficult part to me would be the banks being interested in supplying the service necessary. You get money to your browser wallet by transferring it from your bank account.

I don't live in Switzerland and can't imagine banks or government supporting anything but their own version that gives them control.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Thanks again, if the wallet is "filled" by a bank transfer then I imagine anything able to do so, e.g. my random European bank that allow IBAN transfer, would suffice as long as my wallet itself has an IBAN or that the service provider hosting that wallet has one and then "store" the then "money" for it and allow me to spend it with other GNU Taler wallets.

Anyway I'll explore through a recent technical talk indeed, good suggestion.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

For others who might be interested, found https://tutorials.taler.net/dev/merchant-api/introduction#video-tutorial from the merchant standpoint.

[–] Keineanung@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Of course. I was only curious if it could be done.

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 5 points 3 days ago

I think the answer is: we don't know yet

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 days ago

Also... I'm wondering what that means in practice because if it's online infrastructure then... it can be operating in Switzerland but both sellers and buyers, remotely or face-to-face, can rely on it to exchange money.

So... what are the limitations at the moment, both technically and legally?